Oxytetracycline tablet formulations: the influence of excipients and the method of granulation

The proportion of microcrystalline cellulose and alginic acid present as excipients in the dry mix for an oxytetracycline dihydrate tablet formulation, prepared by a conventional wet granulation process, has been shown to influence granule formation and properties. Granule size distributions have varied widely due perhaps to variation in binder distribution. Granulating with water was equally satisfactory to granulating with a PVP solution. Slugged granules produced robust tablets, which disintegrated and dissolved rapidly.